Minneapolis's expert arborists. Built for Hennepin County winters.

From ash removals to structural pruning to 2 a.m. ice storm response, we keep Minneapolis trees standing through a cold humid continental climate that puts real weight on every branch. Expert arborists, on call around the clock.

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Why Minneapolis

Why Minneapolis trees need a real arborist.

The Certified Arborist Tree Service brings expert arborists, consistent standards, and full insurance to every job across Minneapolis and Hennepin County, whether it is a single removal on a residential lot or a citywide cleanup after a derecho.

Minneapolis trees grow on fertile loam to heavy clay that stays saturated for weeks at a time, then get asked to hold a winter's worth of snow and ice load on top of root systems that never fully dried out. That combination is what actually brings limbs down here, not just wind.

Knowing which street trees are still carrying ash, which oaks share root grafts along a boulevard, and how a summer thunderstorm line moves through the metro is the difference between a tree that gets managed and one that lands on a garage.

Schedule a Minneapolis site walk Call (844) 835-8733

Why Minneapolis trees fail

The risks we watch in Minneapolis right now.

When a tree comes down here, the cause is almost always one of four problems we check for on every Minneapolis site visit.

Emerald Ash Borer

Minneapolis lost a large share of its boulevard ash to this borer, and the standing snags left behind are now a leading cause of unplanned failure across the city.

Oak Wilt

Hennepin County oaks often grow in tight groves with grafted roots, so the fungus that causes oak wilt can move from one tree to its neighbors underground.

Snow and Ice Load

A wet, heavy Minneapolis snowfall or an ice event can add hundreds of pounds to a poorly structured canopy in a single night, snapping codominant limbs.

Derecho and Thunderstorm Windthrow

Summer derechos and severe thunderstorm lines move fast across the metro and expose trees with shallow or compromised root systems in clay soil.

Service area

Our Minneapolis service area.

Serving Minneapolis and the Hennepin County communities around it.

Areas we cover

Click an area to learn more about our work there.

What people are saying

Rated 4.9 stars across 140+ reviews.

Real reviews from real customers, straight from our Google Business Profile. Here's what people say once the crew has packed up and the yard is clean.

★★★★★

March 11th, a brief but strong storm came through Goodlettsville and blew over two giant trees in my front yard; one which was being supported by a 3rd tree that was facing and threatening my house. It was an…

Julie Bangs●3 days ago

★★★★★

From the time I inquired w this company about removing a tree that was strongly impacted from the major strong 80 mph winds on March 3, 2023, they provided us w exceptional service in every way . They were…

Jeanne Mason●3 weeks ago

★★★★★

CATS crew was amazing across the board from Mike & Lisa & Joe to the crew that came to our house. The consultation was easy and informative and made me feel comfortable in choosing them. The price was less…

Guy Hunt●1 month ago

Read all 140+ reviews on Google

What we do

A geotagged inventory of every tree on the property: species, age, condition, and recommended work, refreshed annually.

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Trees we know

The Minneapolis species list, and what we watch for.

Local soil, local weather, local pests. Each species here fails in its own way, and we plan around all of them.

Freeman Maple

A common boulevard replacement for lost ash in Minneapolis, prone to included bark at codominant unions that need early structural pruning.

Littleleaf Linden

Widely planted along Minneapolis streets and tolerant of clay soil, but dense summer foliage can hold enough ice weight to split weak branch unions.

Honeylocust

A go to shade tree in Minneapolis yards for its light canopy, though older specimens often carry old pruning wounds that need a decay check.

Hackberry

Tough on the clay soils around Minneapolis, but it is prone to witches broom growth that an arborist should distinguish from real structural risk.

Norway Maple

Common in older Minneapolis neighborhoods, with surface roots that struggle in seasonally saturated clay and shallow anchoring in high wind.

Sugar Maple

A native tree that colors well in Minneapolis falls but is sensitive to soil compaction and salt spray near plowed streets.

Local expertise

Why an Expert Arborist Matters in Minneapolis

A cold humid continental climate with severe winters asks a lot of a tree, and Minneapolis clay soil does not drain fast enough to help. A crew with a chainsaw treats the limb that already came down. An arborist reads the codominant union or the ash snag that is about to.

Every estimate is walked by an experienced arborist. Cuts follow ANSI A300, risk assessments are TRAQ qualified, and you get a plan plus a current Certificate of Insurance before work begins, whether the job is a single Minneapolis lot or a multi property storm cleanup across Hennepin County.

Across Minneapolis

Emerald ash borer, oak wilt, and snow and ice load hit every Hennepin County suburb, but the mix shifts block by block with tree age, canopy density, and how close a lot sits to a former ash boulevard.

Every community in our coverage list has its own page covering the species, soil, and storm exposure we plan around there, from Minnetonka's lakeside canopy to Brooklyn Park's newer plantings.

Minneapolis FAQ

Local questions, local answers.

Don't see your question? Call us. Every call is answered by a human arborist, day or night.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Minneapolis?

Minneapolis and Hennepin County suburbs each set their own rules, and some boulevard and heritage trees are protected. We confirm the requirements for your exact address and handle any permit or arborist report needed before work begins.

How fast can an arborist get to my property?

Most estimate visits happen within 24 hours, and storm emergencies get a crew on site the same day, including overnight after an ice storm or derecho. We answer the phone around the clock.

Is emerald ash borer still a problem in Minneapolis?

Yes. Much of the metro's boulevard ash is already dead or dying, and standing ash snags are one of the most common fall hazards we remove.

My oak is losing leaves fast in summer. Is that oak wilt?

Rapid summer leaf drop on an otherwise healthy oak is a classic oak wilt sign in this region. Do not prune it until an arborist confirms the cause, since fresh cuts can attract the beetles that spread the fungus.

What standards do your arborists follow?

Every job runs to ANSI A300 standards and risk assessments are TRAQ qualified. An expert arborist conducts every estimate.

Are you insured?

Yes. We carry full general liability and workers' compensation on every crew and can email a current Certificate of Insurance before work begins.

Take back your trees today